Vertner Woodson Tandy (May 17, 1885 – November 7, 1949) was an American architect.[1] He was one of the seven founders (commonly referred to as "The Seven Jewels") of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at Cornell University in 1906. He was the first African American registered architect in New York State. Tandy served as the first treasurer of the Alpha chapter and the designer of the fraternity pin.[2] The fraternity became incorporated under his auspices.
He was born on May 17, 1885, in Lexington, Kentucky.[1] His parents were Henry A. Tandy and Emma Brice Tandy. Henry Tandy was a successful entrepreneur and building contractor. Born enslaved, in 1893 he established the firm Tandy & Byrd in Lexington. Among prominent projects of the firm are the Lexington Opera House and the Fayette County Courthouse, now the site of the Lexington Visitor Center.[3]
In 1904, Tandy attended Tuskegee Institute studying architectural drawing.[4] He married Sadie Dorsette, a daughter of the Montgomery physician Cornelius N. Dorsette.[5] In 1905, he transferred to Cornell University, which he graduated from in 1907 with a degree in architecture.[6] He was one of the founding members, who were collectively called the "Seven Jewels," of the Alpha Phi Alpha Society the first African-American fraternity in 1906.[7][8]
Tandy also holds the distinction of being the first African American to pass the military commissioning examination and was commissioned First Lieutenant in the 15th Infantry of the New York State National Guard.[7]
Deathedit
Vertner W. Tandy died of pneumonia on November 7, 1949, aged 64, in Manhattan, New York City.[1] He is honored with a historic marker in Lexington, Kentucky, installed in 2009.[11]
^Parks, Gregory (2012-01-01). Alpha Phi Alpha: A Legacy of Greatness, The Demands of Transcendence. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN978-0813134574.
^"Tandy, Henry A. · Notable Kentucky African Americans Database". nkaa.uky.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
^Weiss, Ellen (2012-01-01). Robert R. Taylor and Tuskegee: An African American Architect Designs for Booker T. Washington. NewSouth Books. ISBN9781588382481.
^Woods, Mary N. (1999-07-20). From Craft to Profession: The Practice of Architecture in Nineteenth-century America. University of California Press. ISBN9780520921405.
^Harlem Renaissance : art of Black America. Driskell, David C., Lewis, David Levering, 1936-, Willis, Deborah, 1948-, Studio Museum in Harlem. New York: The Studio Museum in Harlem. 1987. ISBN0810910993. OCLC 13945412.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Wesley, Charles H. (1981). The History of Alpha Phi Alpha, A Development in College Life (14th ed.). Chicago: Foundation. ASIN: B000ESQ14W.
Mason, Herman (1999). "The Outspoken Jewel—Vertner Woodson Tandy". The Talented Tenth: The Founders and Presidents of Alpha (2nd ed.). Winter Park, Florida: Four-G. ISBN1-885066-63-5.
Gray, Christopher (1994-04-24). "Streetscapes/The Walker Town House; The Grand Mansion of an Early Black Entrepreneur". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vertner Woodson Tandy.
Alpha Phi Alpha website
April 09, 2024
vertner, woodson, tandy, 1885, november, 1949, american, architect, seven, founders, commonly, referred, seven, jewels, alpha, alpha, fraternity, cornell, university, 1906, first, african, american, registered, architect, york, state, tandy, served, first, tre. Vertner Woodson Tandy May 17 1885 November 7 1949 was an American architect 1 He was one of the seven founders commonly referred to as The Seven Jewels of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at Cornell University in 1906 He was the first African American registered architect in New York State Tandy served as the first treasurer of the Alpha chapter and the designer of the fraternity pin 2 The fraternity became incorporated under his auspices Vertner Woodson TandyTandy circa 1920BornMay 17 1885Lexington Kentucky U S DiedNovember 7 1949 1949 11 07 aged 64 Manhattan New York City U S MonumentsHistoric marker in Lexington Kentucky U S Known forFirst registered African American architect in New York State Co founder of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at Cornell UniversitySpouseSadie TandyChildrenVertner Woodson Tandy Jr Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Death 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksEarly life and education editHe was born on May 17 1885 in Lexington Kentucky 1 His parents were Henry A Tandy and Emma Brice Tandy Henry Tandy was a successful entrepreneur and building contractor Born enslaved in 1893 he established the firm Tandy amp Byrd in Lexington Among prominent projects of the firm are the Lexington Opera House and the Fayette County Courthouse now the site of the Lexington Visitor Center 3 In 1904 Tandy attended Tuskegee Institute studying architectural drawing 4 He married Sadie Dorsette a daughter of the Montgomery physician Cornelius N Dorsette 5 In 1905 he transferred to Cornell University which he graduated from in 1907 with a degree in architecture 6 He was one of the founding members who were collectively called the Seven Jewels of the Alpha Phi Alpha Society the first African American fraternity in 1906 7 8 Career editAfter graduation Tandy and George Washington Foster started their own firm Tandy amp Foster with offices on Broadway in New York City 8 7 Tandy became the State of New York s first registered black architect 7 nbsp Historic marker installed 2009 honoring Tandy sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha the oldest African American fraternityTandy s most famous commission was probably Villa Lewaro the 250 000 mansion for the daughter of the Harlem millionairess Madam C J Walker in Irvington on Hudson New York 9 8 The Italianate style mansion was completed in 1918 and became important in the Harlem Renaissance prior to Walker s death 8 Among his other extant work are the Ivey Delph Apartments and St Philip s Episcopal Church at 204 West 134th Street in Harlem through his architectural firm of Tandy amp Foster The Ivey Delph Apartments designed in 1948 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 10 Tandy also holds the distinction of being the first African American to pass the military commissioning examination and was commissioned First Lieutenant in the 15th Infantry of the New York State National Guard 7 Death editVertner W Tandy died of pneumonia on November 7 1949 aged 64 in Manhattan New York City 1 He is honored with a historic marker in Lexington Kentucky installed in 2009 11 References edit a b c Vertner Woodson Tandy New York Times November 8 1949 Parks Gregory 2012 01 01 Alpha Phi Alpha A Legacy of Greatness The Demands of Transcendence University Press of Kentucky ISBN 978 0813134574 Tandy Henry A Notable Kentucky African Americans Database nkaa uky edu Retrieved 2021 02 28 Weiss Ellen 2012 01 01 Robert R Taylor and Tuskegee An African American Architect Designs for Booker T Washington NewSouth Books ISBN 9781588382481 Cobb William 1960 Cornelius Nathaniel Dorsette M D 1852 97 Journal of the National Medical Association 52 6 456 9 PMID 13694185 Woods Mary N 1999 07 20 From Craft to Profession The Practice of Architecture in Nineteenth century America University of California Press ISBN 9780520921405 a b c d Okocha Victor 2007 03 15 Vertner Woodson Tandy 1885 1949 Retrieved 2021 03 31 a b c d Pioneering Architects Vertner Woodson Tandy AIA www aia org Retrieved 2022 06 20 Harlem Renaissance art of Black America Driskell David C Lewis David Levering 1936 Willis Deborah 1948 Studio Museum in Harlem New York The Studio Museum in Harlem 1987 ISBN 0810910993 OCLC 13945412 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 Vertner Woodson Tandy Historical Marker www hmdb org Retrieved 2023 02 12 Further reading editWesley Charles H 1981 The History of Alpha Phi Alpha A Development in College Life 14th ed Chicago Foundation ASIN B000ESQ14W Mason Herman 1999 The Outspoken Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy The Talented Tenth The Founders and Presidents of Alpha 2nd ed Winter Park Florida Four G ISBN 1 885066 63 5 Gray Christopher 1994 04 24 Streetscapes The Walker Town House The Grand Mansion of an Early Black Entrepreneur The New York Times Retrieved 6 February 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vertner Woodson Tandy Alpha Phi Alpha website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vertner Woodson Tandy amp oldid 1216777064, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
